Abide Together: Reflections on Jonah 3-4

In Jonah 3, after being spit out by the great fish, Jonah headed to Nineveh and preaches that the people should repent and turn to the Lord.  The people respond positively to the message and repent.  In Jonah 4, Jonah is angry that the people had repented and he lets the Lord know it.  The Lord then caused a plant to grow up over night to provide shade for Jonah.  The next day the Lord sent a worm to destroy the plant.  Noah was upset at the Lord about the plant dying.  The Lord points out that Noah was compassionate about the plant, but had no compassion for the people of Nineveh.  The thing that stands out to me this morning is Noah’s statement about the character of the LORD in 4:2 when he says, “for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.”  Noah knew this about the LORD and had experienced this from the LORD, but he did not extend this same grace and lovingkindness to the people of Nineveh.  Those who have received the grace and lovingkindness (mercy) of the LORD should naturally extend it to others.  LORD, thank You for Your abundant grace and mercy in my life – may I be quick to extend grace and mercy to others.

– Bryan McKenzie